Search Results for keywords:"North Pacific Fishery Management Council"

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have issued a final rule establishing the 2025 annual management measures for Pacific halibut fisheries. These regulations, recommended by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) and accepted by the U.S. Secretary of State and Secretary of Commerce, set catch limits to conserve halibut populations. The measures detail specific rules regarding catch sharing, fishing periods, and limits across various areas, with a focus on maintaining sustainability and aligning with international conservation efforts. Additionally, there are distinct regulations for commercial, charter, and recreational halibut fisheries meant to ensure fair distribution and prevent overfishing.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's Enforcement Committee is scheduled to meet on January 28, 2021, via webconference. The meeting will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Alaska time. During this meeting, the Committee will discuss removing the current prohibition on discarding sablefish in the IFQ sablefish fishery. Public comments are encouraged and should be submitted online through the designated meeting page.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council and its advisory committees will hold public meetings from February 1 to February 12, 2021, conducted via web conference. The council will discuss various issues, including crab PSC limit reductions, BSAI fishery ecosystem plans, and the standardized bycatch reporting methodology. Public comments are encouraged and can be submitted electronically by January 29, 2021. This meeting will include reviews and reports significant to fishery management and conservation efforts in the region.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has announced the final groundfish harvest specifications for the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for the years 2025 and 2026. This includes details on total allowable catches (TACs), acceptable biological catches (ABCs), and prohibited species catch (PSC) limits, aimed at conserving fish resources while balancing ecological and economic needs based on the latest scientific data. These regulations follow goals set by the Fishery Management Plan prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and align with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to manage fisheries sustainably. The rule notes that TACs are intentionally set below ABCs to ensure sustainability, and it addresses how these specifications were informed by public comments and scientific assessments.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council will hold a virtual meeting of the Bering Sea Aleutian Islands Crab Plan Team from May 12 to May 15, 2025. The meeting will cover topics such as crab stock assessments, ecosystem updates, and risk discussions, with an agenda subject to change. Participants can join the meeting online or by phone, with details provided on the Council's website. Public comments can be submitted electronically through the meeting link.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council will hold a series of public meetings from March 27 to April 7, 2025. The meetings will cover several topics, including vessel use caps, sablefish release procedures, crab protection measures in the Gulf of Alaska, and more. The sessions will be held virtually, allowing participants to join online through the Council's website. Public comments can be submitted in writing from March 7 to March 28, 2025, to ensure all voices are heard without technical issues affecting oral testimonies.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is hosting a webinar on March 6, 2025, to engage the public and provide information about the Council's Programmatic Evaluation. This evaluation will consider updates to the management policies for the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska fisheries in light of environmental changes. The webinar aims to clarify the materials related to the Evaluation before the Council discusses it in their April 2025 meeting. Public comments can be submitted online, and the webinar will be recorded and available on the Council's website.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's Scallop Plan Team is scheduled to hold a web conference on February 17, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Alaska Time. During this meeting, the team will update the status of the Alaska weathervane scallop stocks and discuss the Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report, including recommendations for the 2021 fishing year. Participants can join the meeting online, and information on how to connect will be made available on the Council's website. Public comments can be submitted electronically through the same site.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council and its advisory committees will hold hybrid meetings from February 3 to February 11, 2025, at the Egan Center in Anchorage, Alaska, and online. Key topics include administrative issues, Cook Inlet salmon harvest specifications, and a review of salmon bycatch. Public comment is encouraged to be submitted electronically before the deadline of January 31, 2025. The meeting is open to the public for attendance either in person or online.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's Enforcement Committee will hold a web conference on March 27, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Alaska Time. They will discuss the Small sablefish release analysis, which looks at allowing certain harvesters to carefully release small sablefish, and the Maximum Retainable Amount (MRA) adjustments, which aim to clarify and possibly revise current regulations. Public comments are encouraged and can be submitted online. The agenda might be updated, so participants are advised to check the meeting website for the most current information.